France captain Raphael Ibanez announced his retirement from international rugby and looked back on his career with words of praise from his English club London Wasps ringing in his ears.

Ibanez went to three Rugby World Cups, two as captain in 1999 and 2007, and won four Six Nations Championship winners' medals, two with Grand Slams.

On the club scene, Ibanez had to wait until he joined Wasps from Saracens in 2005 to pick up honours. This he did in his first season, with a Powergen Cup winners' medal, followed by Heineken Cup success in May 2007 when he scored one of Wasps' two tries in the Twickenham final victory over Leicester Tigers.

Paying tribute to Ibanez's contribution to international rugby, Wasps' director of rugby, Ian McGeechan said: "Raf is one of the nicest, most committed rugby players I have ever come across; a very genuine person who I would definitely call a friend as well as a colleague.

"In rugby terms, Raf has been absolutely fabulous since he came to the club, and as Raf himself says, he now has two families: his wife Sandra and the kids, and Wasps.

"What Raf has achieved, his character and the way he operates is first class. The fact that he is now the world's most capped hooker reflects his commitment and durability, particularly as he has played throughout that time in the uncompromising environment of the front row.

"Raf has been an immense captain and player for France, as he has for Wasps, and we are very proud of 'The Ibanez' as we call him here!

"I would also like to offer a personal thank you to Raf for what he has brought to the game, with France at international level, and latterly with Wasps at club level. As a person and a player, he and people like him are the reasons why we coach - you get so much back. They give you that special feeling that it's good to be a coach."

On the hooker's future at Wasps, McGeechan echoed Ibanez's hopes: "London Wasps and Raphael Ibanez are a committed partnership going forward, and we are currently in discussions with Raf about his future at the club."

Wasps' head coach Shaun Edwards said, "Raphael Ibanez is one of the greatest men who ever played for his country, he is one of the most popular signings we have ever made at London Wasps and highly respected by the rest of the Wasps players.

"Raf is a bloke who plays the game with passion and a fierce competitive edge, but who is living proof that nice guys do come first."

Ibanez reflected on his France career, which began as a replcement for flanker Richard Castel in a 16-15 defeat to Wales in Cardiff in March 1996, with great pride.

"I have enjoyed every minute wearing the blue jersey," Ibanez said, "and in what I have achieved I have made myself, but most importantly, made my family proud.

"I have many great memories, but there are some highlights that stand out. For our Grand Slam, in 1998, I was made captain when nobody really knew who I was.

"It was my first big Test start, and I led my team out for the first time against England, facing the man who is now on my side, Lawrence Dallaglio, who was captain of England that day. Getting to the World Cup final, and playing the All Blacks in the semi-final at Twickenham [in 1999] is another great moment that will stay with me.

"But playing and winning last year's Six Nations Championship is probably one of my biggest achievements, especially after I had stepped down from international rugby in 2003.

"It was one of the biggest challenges of my career, and Wasps played a big part in my ability to achieve a comeback.

"When I said I wanted to play for France again, I don't think anybody really believed that I could do it, except Shaun and Geech and the people at Wasps. I owe them a lot for the belief they had in me, and the support and help of the club in helping me to achieve so much in the last two seasons."

Ibanez played his first game of rugby at the age of 18, coming to the game late. His father also played hooker for Dax before him.

Raphael Ibanez Fact File

Date Of Birth: 17/02/1973 (34)
Place Of Birth: Dax, France
Height: 180cm / 5'11"
Weight: 102kg / 225lbs / 16st 1lbs
Clubs: Dax, Castres Olympique, USA Perpignan, Saracens, London Wasps
Honours: France A, France
Invitational: Barbarians

Test Summary:

Played: 98
Won: 63
Drawn: 1
Lost: 34
Tries: 8
Points: 40

There were 142 French Test Matches between his debut and last match, of which he played on 98 occasions.

Ibanez captained France for the first time against England in the opening Six Nations match of 1998. It was his seventh cap, and only his third start. France won 24-17 on the way to the Grand Slam. England were captained by Lawrence Dallaglio.

Six Nations Championship titles
1998 (capt, Grand Slam), 2002(Grand Slam), 2006, 2007 (capt)

Rugby World Cup
Played 18 RWC Matches - Won 12, Lost 6, Tries 2, Points 10. Holds the French record for most appearances in RWC (Fabien Pelous second with 16). Jason Leonard holds the overall record with 22.

Junior World Champion 1992
University World Champion (French captain) 1996

Statistics courtesy of London Wasps/Sportstat.